Discover Top Posts Tagged with #quiyk

R9, P2

Hi! So, our General Managers have become incredibly busy and burnt-out so we're taking a short break here, finding a time where all the GMs can get together and finishing the entire draft in one night.

Then, things will proceed as normal for good.

Sorry for the delay last week, again, we had an emergency. Thanks for understanding!

69. Andrew Dirk Hryekewicz, Texas A&M, Seeker

Based on performance and physical ability, I believe that Texas A&M currently has the best seeking corps in the nation. One half of their seeking duo is the most physically dominant seeker in the game, Andrew "Dirk" Hryekewicz. Dirk is bigger and stronger than his elite counterparts, Keir Rudolph and Steve DiCarlo. He has the ability to stay with the most athletic snitches and power through snitch defenders. He is the complete package at the position. To help me describe Dirk, I recruited Texas A&M captain Drew Wasikowski, an individual who has been there throught Hryekewicz's impressive career.

"Dirk brings something to the seeking game that a lot of other seekers don't, and that is strength. at 6'5",He has the absurdly long reach and arm span prevalent in your ideal seeker, but he also has this raw aggressive strength and power about him that absolutely overpowers and overwhelms almost every snitch he goes up against. His stength combined with Kifer Gregoire's speed and relentlessness has led the A&M to a very successful snitch count this season and will prove vital going into WCVII." - Drew Wasikowski

Dirk is a great fit on my fantasy team as he can hold down the position on his own or combine with Sean Pagoada to form the most devastating seeking pair on any of the Quiyk teams. Throw in the strong chaser and beater play that the rest of my draft picks bring to the team and my team will have the opportunity to win any game they are in. -Beto

70. Alex Leitch, Hofstra University, Beater

Photo by Dani Palmer

In round two, I drafted one of, if the not the best, pound-for-pound chaser in Kody Marshall. Seven rounds later, I landed the pride of Hofstra University, Alex Leitch, who has cemented himself as the best pound-for-pound beater in the league. Leitch possess the arm strength, accuracy, and decision-making that make him a highly effective and efficient beater. In addition, his field presence and communication skills allow him to properly direct his teammates during the game (many can attest to hearing him scream commands 2-3 fields over). But when he doesn’t have a bludger, Leitch’s trademark aggressiveness puts him head and shoulders above other beaters. Like Marshall, Leitch is a devastating force to those who underestimate him. He is not afraid to get physical with opponents two to three times bigger than him and will literally lay his body on the line for bludger control. His health is certainly a question, as many will recall he suffered a tournament-ending injury at Northeast Regionals. While the journey to full recovery has been long, sources say that he will be ready for Myrtle Beach, where I am confident that his full talent and skills will be on display. - Canto

71. Jacob Heppe, Michigan State, Keeper

72. Joe Wright, Texas A&M, Chaser

Why is this kid still available? Sure, I'll take him. Joe Wright, welcome to the squad! When my fellow GMs went on an Aggie drafting spree I could only sit back and laugh at the fact that you were still around. I guess when my peers get their scouting reports from shoddy sources it's bound to happen. Evan Bell was more ballsy than I when he took the thirteenth best quaffle player on the best team in the country. Sticking with my conservative nature I will have to go with possibly the best (at least top 3 along with Kifer & Drew). Fast, strong, quick, fierce, playmaker. Most importantly he brings some humility to my team, because the Lord knows I need a heavy dose. Joe is the type of person who prefers flying under the radar. He will complement our team's other superstars fantastically on the way to winning this whole thing.

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC U, Sean Pagoada, FF C/S, Kedzie Teller, QC Boston C, Keri Callegari, Lone Star QC C, Hai Nguyen, Kansas K, Connor Drake, LSQC S, Andrew Hryekewicz, Texas A&M

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA C/S, Harry Greenhouse, UMD C/B, Melissa White, LSU C, Sean Beloff, UMiami B, Ashley Calhoun, Central Michigan K/C, Ren Bettendorf, SB Blacktips B, Alex Leitch, Hofstra University

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA C, Michael Powell, BU C, Audrey Wright, UT B/(C) Mathieu Gregoire, Texas A&M B, Shannon Moorhead, UMiami C, Kenny Chilton, UT K, Jacob Heppe, Michigan State

TEAM DUGIE: C/U, Simon Arends, Lone Star QC C/U, Chris Morris, Lone Star QC K/U, Daniel Daugherty, BGSU K/U, August Lührs, USC S/U, Keir Rudolph, Kansas B, Scott Axel, PSU B, Kyrie Timbrook, Skrewts C, Meredith Taylor, BGSU Joe Wright

#quiyk #draft #fantasy

R9, P1

65. Amanda Nagy, Lost Boys, Beater/Chaser

Amanda Nagy, better known as Turtles in the quidditch community, is a FANTASTIC player. She transitioned to beater this year and has been a standout player, perhaps slightly overlooked due to the amount of talent on her team...but getting to train and practice with and against Peter Lee and Chris Seto has obviously helped her development. She has a great arm and an excellent feel of when to throw and when to fake. I was super impressed with her at Diamond Cup in February, and watching film has only secured that feeling. In a game against UCLA, she missed the point offensive chaser, then proceeded to catch the opponents bludger, force a pass, and beat the pass to the receiver, completely shutting the play down. She knows what to do on the field and can just execute, which is something that separates the top beaters from the good ones. On top of strategy, she has atleticism to spare and the dedication that comes from a community team widely expected to be in the WC finals. All of this combined with her dedication to the sport makes her a great pick, and I feel confident that the GM of the Sassy Nasty Ninja Turtles, one of the greatest merc teams of all time, will be an excellent addition to my team. Welcome, Turtles! - Alex

66. Tyler Sessions, Texas A&M, Keeper/Chaser

Joining Texas A&M teammates and fellow Southwest Regional Champions Becca DuPont and Sean Fry on Team Dallas is Tyler Sessions. A force at both keeper and chaser, Sessions is a new recruit and a key piece in the current Aggies roster. Having lost both their main keepers from last season, the team needed replacements. Sessions was one of those players who took to the green headband almost effortlessly. You'll notice in film from the recent Southwest Regional that Sessions finds himself as the quaffle carrier more often than his fellow new recruits and, in turn, with significantly more scoring opportunities -- regardless of whether he is playing keeper or chaser. He has no issue finding and taking an open lane to drive toward the hoops or get a pass to an open teammate nears the hoops (think DuPont). Having Sessions on this roster as a keeper allows for Tony Rodriguez to take a breather and Michael Parada to play the wing chaser position where he truly thrives. But in the event that Sessions steps in as chaser, a likely event with Rodriguez's marathon-keeping, this adds yet another physical, Southwest chaser to a defense already bolstered by aggressive, deadly accurate beater play. - Dallas

67. Stephen Ralph, University of Miami, Keeper

PC: Deanna Yates

Ralph is used to playing all game every game for the consistently highly ranked Miami since he started playing in the Spring of 2011. I seriously don't understand how he's able to have such great stamina and still play his game so well. The last time Miami didn't have Ralph for a huge game... their Round of 32 exit against Bowling Green in World Cup VI. Ralph sustained an ankle injury that was so bad that he himself was no longer able to play. That injury is fully healed and Stephen is once again a central force for the Hurricanes: using his incredible length and great jumping ability to gobble up shots and passes with huge range around the hoops and functioning as one of their main distributors. Ralph passes and shoots from range at a high level. He is a great finisher around the hoops, and of course, has smart sports instincts that will make him fit in even better on my team. Ralph has become the best hoops defender on the team, allowing a huge amount of lineup flexibiltiy for me. He will always play at keeper, which allows both Browne and Wasikowski to excel at chaser in what would be a monster line of size and well, decent speed with Ralph-Sponagle-Browne-Wasikowski. That is just one of many great lines I can use and expect to give Ralph no shortage of playing time, although it might have to be a little less than he's used to. - Dan

PC: Lauren Carter

68. Sam Adlis, Chaser, Texas A&M

In a powerhouse program such as Texas A&M, it's easy for newer additions to a roster to get lost in the mix. Sam Keegan Adlis is an exception to this concept. You might also think that because his brother Jacob is regarded as one of the great minds to ever grace the sport, Sam would be living in his brother's shadow; anyone who has watched Sam play for a couple minutes quickly erases that thought from their mind. With a build and playing style similar to that of his teammate Drew Wasikowski, Adlis is a powerhouse player. His size and experience (he was a star player for the Silver Phoenixes last year) allow him to have an incredible presense on both sides of the ball and fill a variety of important roles on the field. His explosive power on offense is truly impressive, and will fit in perfectly with the other potential chaser line-ups on my roster. Jack The Phan wrote in his Mock Draft write-up that "Sam Keegan Adlis is going to be a steal in this draft." Jack had him going in the 6th round. I just picked him up in the 9th. Take that as you will. -Evan

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas K, Jacob Bruner, Baylor C/S, Adam Robillard, Gee-Gees B, Ryan Peavler, Tx St C/B, Amanda Turtles, Lost Boys

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC U, Steve Hysick, NYDC B, Sean Fry, Texas A&M K/C, Tyler Sessions, Texas A&M

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU B, Tim Brestowski, Baylor B, Rachel Harrsion, Texas A&M K, Stephen Ralph, UMiami

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT C/S, Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys B, Andy Abayan, SB Blacktips C, Nichole Galle, Lone Star QC C, Bernardo Berges, UMiami C, Sam Adlis, Texas A&M

#quiyk #quaffle #iqa #snitch #fantasy

R8, P1

57. Meredith Taylor, BGSU, Chaser

It is complete. Speed, strength, skill, and raw athleticism can only do so much, but love - LOVE conquers all. Not only is my next selection King Corn's better half (way better) making her Queen Corn, she is in her own right the best female chaser on a team that has found uncommon success with a higher than normal female to male roster ratio. She is inarguably the best female chaser of any region that has a cold winter (Eighth Man top female of the MW, All Tournament Team Canada Fantasy, All Tournament Team MW Fantasy, MAC All-Star Team, Ohio All-Star Team), and arguably among the best in those that are miserably hot all year round. She fits into any system as an off ball threat to score as she will on this team, but can also handle the quaffle when called upon. Defensively she taps into her basketball background to deny passes to whoever she is guarding. Very rarely will you see an alley-oop executed with her man/woman on the receiving end. More importantly though, she is a genuinely awesome person. Her life goal is to help kids lead healthy, active lifestyles by teaching high school physical education classes and I assume continue coaching. Oh.. and her favorite color is blue.. which just so happens to be the color of my eyes. Watch out, Daniel! - Hank

Caption: "World Cup Winning snitches are pretty cool, but I really prefer jumping and scoring goals."

58. Kenny Chilton, University of Texas, C/S

Kenny Freaking Chilton!!! Have people forgot about the kid who made UT's team as a freshman? Have people forgot about the young sophomore who made waves on the championship-winning longhorns last year. SURELY people remember the young man became the first non-middlebury to catch a World Cup-winning snitch? Kenny hasn't slowed down at all, becoming one of the leaders of UT's team this year. He showed at SW Fantasy that he still has insane skills as both chaser and seeker, and is showing positive signs all over the pitch. He is the classic SW combination of speed and strength, a talented chaser who can both score and play defense. His seeking is proven and relentless, and he's able to use both his physical prowess and his intuition after three years at the position. I am terribly proud to add him to the squad! - Zach

59. Ren Bettendorf, K/C, Santa Barbara

Looking for an early candidate for the rookie who bursts into the limelight at World Cup? Look no further than Ren Bettendorf. Many expected Santa Barbara to struggle mightily this year after most of their core from last year's team fall apart. Instead, they've prospered and become the best team they've ever been. At the heart of this team is their three major male quaffle handlers, and the frontrunner of these is Bettendorf. Bettendorf is extremely tall with long arms, allowing him to man the hoops effectively and cut down passing lanes as all elite keepers need to do. However, he excels as a point chaser, preventing teams from being able to drive to the hoops on him. On offense, Bettendor shines at all places. He has a strong shot, can drive against anyone with his smooth spin move, and is a strong, accurate passer. As a receiver, he has some of the best hands in the IQA (if not the best), hauling down every pass thrown at him, ready to shoot it as soon as he manages to touch it with his hands. Need more proof that Bettendorf's on the rise? In a field with such strong candidates as Tony Rodriguez, Andy Abayan, and Peter Lee, none of these ended up earning MVP honors at Gold Medal Cup. Instead, Bettendor put on such an impressive display that he took home the trophy, even if his team was ultimately eliminated by the champions in the semifinals

-Canto

60. Connor Drake, Lone Star Quidditch Club, Keeper

Connor Drake is one of the most explosive talents in the game today. Able to slice through defenses, I have been able to see this former Olympian play dominant quidditch throughout this season first hand on LSQC. Averaging around 3 points per game during the season, Connor is a dynamic substitute for Stephen ball. He is able to not only make his own shot, something incredibly difficult to do with increasingly aggressive chaser and beater defenses, but able to distribute the ball to all of his teammates with immaculate precision. Master of one of the best midrange games in the sport, just go watch any LSQC film where Connor is playing. You’ll see Connor make important midrange shots in big games that force defenses to collapse on him, opening up cutting lanes for his teammates. I was inclined to draft Connor in part because of the in place chemistry he has with his Lone Star teammates as well as to reunite the dynamic one two punch that Connor formed with Hai Nguyen during his time as the star keeper for the University of Kansas. Defensively, Connor is a monster. Able to cover every hoop despite his shorter than average height for a keeper, Drake is consistently denies opponent’s long shots and is able to come out to make hits when his team needs them. I trust Connor’s long track record of success and consistency in big games against elite opposition. Connor is and has been one of the elite Keepers in the game for years. I’m surprised that he has been so consistently overlooked this entire year. - Beto

#IQA #QUIDDITCH #QUIYK

R7, P2

Again, sorry for the delay, but we're back on track.

53. Hai Nguyen, Kansas, Chaser

Hai "all I do is" Nguyen. (High win)

The quidditch incarnation of Goku from the popular dragon ball series. Why is hai good? I have played with hai for 3 years and I have never seen him lose at brooms up. His agility is top notch and his completion rate with 15 feet of the net is unparalleled. His best attribute is the speed of his feet. His change of direction is phenominal, that mixed in with his versatility in direction and unpredictability, when playing against hai the only thing harder to catch then him, is a break. Hai is also an intellegent passer. His speed means themat he is seldom unguarded or vuarded by only one person, and it is haily unlikely that hai ever misses the opportunity to dish the ball to any of his teammates. While his skills are deadly, his greatest feature is his humility." While kansas always looks the best and gets the most bitches. Hai has a sportsman attitude always" -ronell sharp. when it comes to Mr.Nguyen, all his competitors utter the same thing. "Get Hai" Authored by Samy Mousa

-Beto

PC to B. Brown

54. Ashley Calhoun, CMU, Beater

The cornerstone of the CMU defense, Ashley Calhoun has established herself as one of the best beaters in the country, and arguably the best beater in the Midwest. This is particulary significant considering she only started playing in early 2012, but her phyisical and mental attributes have progressed her development rather rapidly. A softball player by background, Calhoun is incredibly accurate with her throws, as any Midwest player can attest. But if you speak to others, many will point out that her decision-making, field positioning, and overall pitch-awareness is what sets her above the rest. What Calhoun brings to the team is an incredible quidditch IQ, which is a quality that is present in many elite beaters in the league. Calhoun is a perfect complement to Melissa White, giving Team Canto a solid defense that can negate some of the best chaser lines. -Canto

Caption: "I protect my snitch. Look at this pansy on the other team, can barely even palm the ball. Psh."

55. Shannon Moorhead, University of Miami, Beater

With my next pick I will be selecting not only an amazing beater and human, but also arguably the most beautiful player (with the exception of drewski) in the draft. If that matters to anyone. As a freshman, Shannon ended up playing one of the toughest positions to figure out in a new sport, and she mastered it quicker than some of the best beaters in the country did in their first years. After a year in the South, Shannon hit up the Northeast Regionals to show off her skill, and holy shit did she lend some credibility to the region nobody knows anything about. Fiercely competitive and smart (I guess all of The 'U''s athletes aren't as brainless as Warren Sapp), Shannon impressed working with and against new teammates in a new region. It seems she has fallen in the draft due to an injury, but she'll be back for World Cup! And if you've ever met the girl, you know she's the type to come back harder and faster from an injury. Aaron Ramsey style. -Zach

PC to Kat Ignatova

56. Kyrie Timbrook, Silicon Valley Skrewts, Beater

With this pick, I select the only former or current Consensus First Team All-American to play the sport - Kyrie Timbrook. She is the yang to Scott Axel's ying. The jelly to his peanut butter. Although the world is cruel and has deprived us of the opportunity to see the two in action together in real life, we can only imagine the result would be spectacular. She is one of the smartest beaters in the game (I mean c'mon, she has a masters degree!) and the absolute most accurate arm. When she chooses a target only an act of God can keep her opponent from being beat. More importantly, she is mentally tough enough to put up with all of a particular someone's crap. Anyone tough enough for that, is tough enough for my team. -Hank

#quiyk #quidditch #iqa #snitch

R7, P1

49. Adam Robillard, UOttawa, C/S

While the majority of teams are in the United States, it is clear that there is talent to spare elsewhere and where better to start than the reigning Canadian champs, the Gee-Gee's from UOttawa. It is somewhat rare in quidditch to find not only a great athlete, but one with the stature to compete with anyone, and the willingness to dive into the sport and analyze it to it's corps as well and finding ways for those around him to succeed, but that is what Adam Robillard brings to the table. At 6'1, he is one of the fastest and most lauded chasers that Canada has to offer, a threat in the open field with the power to drive as well. He is the current coach of the Gee-Gee's and having the opportunity to sit next to him during the last few rounds of World Cup VI, I learned quite a few things from him strategy wise I had never considered before. Like all the players on my team, he has the drive to push in any game and make something happen. In addition to this he brings great utility to the team through his seeking game, using his athleticism and size to overwhelm snitches. Some of my picks may be unproven, but the Gee-Gee's didn't luck into a regional championship, and were a Porter Marsh snitch grab away from going undefeated in pool play at WC VI. -Alex

photo credit to Monica Wheeler

50. Steve Hysick, NYDC Capitalists,Utility

Allow me to introduce you to Michael Parada's other half and one of the most underrated players in the game, the NYDC Capitalists' Steve Hysick.

Hysick is best known for his roles as the former point defender for Penn State University and the current starting point defender for NYDC. Having spent his entire quidditch career alongside Parada (including all of his fantasy appearances), he can predict Parada's on-pitch decisions. When positioned at point, expect Hysick to make the play and force the ball carrier to make a pass to wing chaser that can easily be intercepted by Parada or to the hoops, which would be easily blocked by keeper Tony Rodriguez. Hysick's defense is undeniably rock solid and, if necessary, his endurance allows him to lay a quick succession of tackles without needing a breather. On the offensive end, Hysick is a tenacious wing chaser with great hands who easily finds open space for solid finishes. If open space is hard to come by, Hysicks' physicality makes running through opposing chasers a fairly easy feat. In case you were unaware, two years ago Hysick actually began his quidditch career dawning a black headband. He even brought Villanova to the finals of the Champions Series as the sole male beater. Unlike many males in this position, Hysick airs away from the hyper-aggressive side, focusing on making smart, calculated plays and maintaining bludger control. This experience grants Hysick the capability of reading the opposing beaters' moves well in advance and finding a variety of ways to outsmart them. He still makes the occasional appearance as a beater on NYDC in clutch situations (NYDC v. Emerson College in OT at Turtle Cup). And last but not least, Hysick is currently part of what has been coined one of the deepest seeker lines ever seen. A player with experience catching the snitch when it counts, Parada's three-peat was secured by Hysick at the 2013 Northeast Fantasy. That's one line down, one to go. - Dallas

photo by Lauren Carter

51. Tim Brestowski, Baylor, Beater

Ooooh I'm excited about this pick. With a couple GMs later this round in need of guy beaters, I was able to snag one that is arguably as good as, better than, or at least very close to the overall beater abilitly of his Baylor teammates David Gilbert and Chris Rhodes, who were drafted with the 16th and 20th picks, respectively, Meanwhile, Tim fell to me with the 51st pick. Probably because his name was too hard to spell, so analysts decided to give Gilbert and Rhodes all the attention. I'll fully admit that I hadn't heard much about Tim until my first round pick Drew Wasikowski starting harping on me to pick Tim somewhere around the third round of the draft. Drew described Tim as having the experience, focus and discpline that made him stand out more than anyone in a team already known for its excellent beaters. Tim was cemented as my pick when I watched the Baylor-UT semifinal video (http://youtu.be/qWnYlGoBQLQ). From the start of the game, he shows a mix of speed, smarts, and a strong and accurate arm that he uses to decisively regain bludger control and stop goals. I've never seen the stiff arm used so well by a beater! Tim was finally received some accolades from analysts after Diamond Cup, heralded on the IQA website as one of the players who was instrumental in Baylor's run to a snitch-range loss to undefeated Texas A&M in the finals, which included the 150*-40 semifinal shocker over UT. Now, I am not committing to a two male beater set with this pick. It is crucial to have another top-level beater who can work well with Chris Seto or have them sub with each other without a dropoff of quality in the position on the field. -Dan

photo by Lauren Carter

52. Nichole Galle, Lone Star QC, Chaser

It is a huge rarity in quidditch today to find a female chaser who is just as confident playing ball-handler as she is playing off-ball. Nichole Galle is a playmaker. She doesn't just sit there and wait for her male teammates to pass her the ball for quick goals; she fights for the ball every minute she's playing, forcing opposing defenses to respect and fear her on the pitch. She has an extremely accurate shot, although she rarely finds herself in situations where she has to make the tough shot, as she is able to consistently find good positioning on the field. Absolutely solid on defense, she can play a tight man defense and knows how to tackle better than most people twice her size. In short, she's a "complete package" female chaser. She will solidify the chemistry of my chasing line, leaving opposing defenses with no options for who to "exploit" on either side of the ball. She's also a top contender for "Most Adorable Smile in the IQA". Happy Birthday, Nichole, and welcome to Team Bell! -Evan

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas K, Jacob Bruner, Baylor C/S, Adam Robillard, Gee-Gees

Cool.

#quiyk #quidditch #iqa #swag #snitch #lol

R6, P2

44. Keri Callegari, Lone Star, Chaser

On a team filled with high profile players, it is sometimes easy to forget the greatness of Keri Callegari. A major contributor for A&M in years past, Callegari has joined forces with Sarah Holub and former aggie Nichole Galle to make up one of the strongest female chaser rotations in the country. Instead of going on and on about how great she is, I figure I'd rather show you some of her highlights to demonstrate how she contributes on both sides of the ball. 8 Minute mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekoYFfV6DqU Keri strips Texas state player preventing a goal from being scored. 26:54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNeGV0vOhE&feature=youtu.be Keri’s great hands 12:33 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUER3jZtPkk Keri solo tackles Tyler Sessions. 6:29 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcgOAiAQsi8 Keri Strips A&M player 7:54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNeGV0vOhE&feature=youtu.be Watch Keri function within an offense and keep the ball moving which leads to a score

Photo Credit to Kat Ignatova

45. Andy Abayan, Santa Barbara, Beater

I feel truly honored to be able to announce that Andy Abayan has officially "un-retired" from quidditch. Abayan was a relatively unheralded member of UCLA's team last season (many seemed to assume that their beating corps was entirely Asher King Abramson). Unlike his much taller and physically imposing teammate, Abayan uses his shorter stature and quick feet to weave his way around the field, subtly imposing his will across the entire pitch without often drawing attention to himself. That being said, the guy possesses one of the more terrifying pump fakes I've ever seen. He can force bad throws from quaffle and bludger carriers alike simply by aiming his bludger in their direction. His throws are deadly accurate and deadly in power. He can leave a welt with a beat, and have the ball rebound right back into his hands. He catches bludgers like its his purpose in life, and his reaction times are just... I mean, insert superlative here. Athletic abilities aside, the most impressive aspect of Abayan is his decision-making. I've never seen a beater with such a strong grasp of beater strategies, who is able to adapt to any opposing offense/defense at the drop of a hat. Don't assume that you can beat this guy by playing a strictly conservative or strictly aggressive game, because Abayan knows exactly how to break that down, and is more than capable of doing so. Pairing Abayan with either Brittany Ripperger or Chris Rhodes is a thrilling and terrifying thought. If any other GMs think they're still in the running for the title of best beater corps in this draft, they might want their mental health re-evaluated. With Abayan's ability to open up lanes and remove point defenders, my chaser line will find it relatively easy to execute drive after drive for goals, and opposing offenses will find it nearly impossible to get into the keeper zone without getting beat. And you can just forget about opposing seekers getting time with the snitch.

Photo by Elizabeth Barbier

46. Brad Armentor, LSU, Chaser

Right after I (probably illegally) threw my elbow into Brad Armentor's sternum while he was diving sideways and sidearming a shot straight through the hoop after driving down half the field, I took a moment to wonder, how did this guy fall out of the conversation of elite players in the game? Brad has had a very notable quidditch career, when he was a loud, brash and passionate standout star for one of the original great quidditch programs outside of the Northeast. After an excellent performance among fellow superstars winning the gold medal for Team USA, Brad and LSU found themselves on the periphery of the national radar, where they remain this season, fighting to get back to their original spot as the top of the strongest region. Brad is still the backbone of the team in his 5th year playing for them. His performance at Diamond Cup was all-around excellent. He had moments of lackadaisical defense, but nobody is more aware of that problem than Brad, and it's the easiest problem to fix. Even so, his strong moments far and away outnumbered his mistakes. He held the ball a great deal of the time when he was on the field, and he was able to drive for goals, find open receivers for goals, and turn the ball over remarkably few times considering how much time he spent holding it. On my team, he will shine as the extremely valuable role of offensive tank. He's shockingly fast for his size, brutally difficult to take down, one of the best bludger-blockers out there, and a great finisher at the hoops as well as from mid-range. He proved at Diamond Cup that he can drive through the greatest defenders in quidditch when he was instrumental in keeping LSU close in their bracket matchup with Lone Star. And unlike many of the other great tanks in the league, Brad is a great decision-maker, will protect the ball, and find the pass when it's the better option. I invite you to watch LSU-Lone Star to watch Brad (#20) put on a fantastic all-around effort in a losing battle against some of the best out there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNeGV0vOhE

Photo Credit to Michael E. Mason

47. Michael Parada, NYDC, Keeper/Chaser/Seeker

Three-year captain and founding member of Penn State University, NYDC Capitalists captain, Team USA chaser, the King of Fantasy Tournaments (3-0 as a GM), three-sport high school varsity athlete, intramural champ (at a school of 40,000) and a D1 track athlete. If that does not add up to an appealing pick in your mind, let me throw some stats your way: - 22.4 seconds in the 200m - 10.9 seconds in the 100m - 4.5 seconds in the 40m - 6'2 in the high jump Michael Parada is without a doubt the best chaser and/or keeper left in this draft. In fact, he should have gone significantly sooner. At his best in the wing chaser position (a spot he will return to with the Capitalists), Parada is the perfect addition to my current line of Tony Rodriguez and Becca DuPont. As seen by his stats, Parada brings speed to this already powerful offense. He has a reputation for being a reliable finisher. He can dunk, he can pass, he can set a pick, he can hit a long shot. With overall impeccable field awareness, this chaser has no issue finding open space. When Rodriguez needs one of his very few breathers, Parada--also with a solid long shot--can sub in at keeper and keep the high-flying offensive alive. In addition to his rep for reliable scoring, Parada is also a solid distributor. Similar to what I mentioned was the case with the Rodriguez/DuPont combo, DuPont will take position by the hoops and Parada--led in by beaters Max Havlin or Katrina Bossotti--will dish her the perfect pass leading to an easy score. Not an option? Expect DuPont and Parada to have an easy back-and-forth passing game until one finds the opportunity to dunk. On defense as either a chaser or keeper, expect Parada's height to do some serious damage. He has a great vertical and long arms, leading to interceptions left and right. His size also allows his to easily wrap up opposition and force lackluster passes his teammates will easily snatch up. While donning a yellow headband, Parada snatched several key grabs that contributed to his fantasy three-peat. If his long arms fail him, his relentlessness will certainly give his seeking substitute a leg up for the grab. Look for him to double-team the seeker game with teammate Steve DiCarlo. In case you forgot that brains play a part in this game, this means two of the most notable minds in the sport are part of Team Dallas. Expect DiCarlo and Parada to be able to figure out and break down an opposing team's strategy with ease. My final remark is to you, Hank Dugie. If Scott Axel has a quidditch IQ that is off the charts, what does that make the IQ belonging to the man who trained him and still coaches him from the sideline of tournaments?

48. Jacob Bruner, Baylor, Keeper

Recently coming off of a Diamond Cup finals appearance, Baylor University is on a high, and Jacob Bruner can be considered a huge factor in getting there. His huge stature and powerful frame belies his speed on the edge, and he is a huge offensive threat if you combine that with his long shot. In addition he is ridiculously hard to bring down, and while he was brought down in the finals, he always managed to get a good pass off beforehand. In the Baylor zone they leave the back of the hoops pretty much exclusively to him with much confidence, and for good reason. He has all the defensive skills you want in an elite keeper without even having to tackle, blocking almost every shot that comes his way, sometimes through the hoop. He is often overlooked in the crowded SW keeper field, but I don't anticipate that lasting after the Baylor Bears attempt to defend their SW Regional title. They are fresh off a World Cup Final Four appearance and a shellacking of the reigning WC Champs UT, and expect them to only get better. Plus, try to argue that he doesn't look like Marshall Erickson in that picture, I dare you. He is a much better distributor than Fox and will serve as a good changeup for my Quiyk team, and he deserves as much recognition as he can get.

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC U, Sean Pagoada, Florida's Finest C/S, Kedzie Teller, QC Boston C, Keri Callegari, Lone Star QC

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT C/S, Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys B, Andy Abayan, SB Blacktips

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas K, Jacob Bruner, Baylor

#quiyk #quidditch #iqa

R6, P1

41. Scott Axel, Penn State University, Beater

Kevin Oelze would have you believe that in the majority of matches, the lesser team wins. That is simply not the case. A team that is bigger, stronger, faster, and better looking will win 9 out of 10 times. However, as a member of the Silicon Valley Skrewts it makes since that he is holding out hope that a team with lesser athletes can manage the occasional win. To appease him, I have decided to focus this description on my next pick's intellectual capacity rather than his laser rocket arm or the fact that he is the best beater his region has to offer. World, meet Scott Axel. For those fans of the winter olympics, Scott himself is a big-time skiier. He won best eyes in high school, was a member of Model UN and Youth Goverment, and is currently an architecture major at Penn State. If the fact that he is a architecture major at Penn State doesn't scream GENIUS, I don't know what does. His field awareness and quidditch IQ are off the charts. Yes, I made charts and he is off of them. He's cultured. Loves travelling. Holland and South Korea are his favorites. Bludger-wise he prefers green ones that blend in with the grass. When asked if he uses gloves he replied, "Hell no! No gloves, only spit." His teams have won both fantasy tournaments that he's attended. And one more thing, he's never lost a bludger on brooms up. SPEED. - Hank Dugie

42. Mathieu Gregoire, Lone Star, Beater/(Chaser)

With my sixth pick in the draft, I select Mathieu Gregoire. Recent transfer from A&M to Lone Star, Mathieu has established himself as one of the best beaters in the Southwest, as well as the nation. Not quite as well-known outside the region of some of the other players from the SW, Mathieu is arguably one of the best players yet to be taken in the draft. Mathieu is aggressive and smart, and it's absolutely offensive how much of an accurate cannon he has when throwing the bludger. Most importantly, though, is the mustache. Have you seen it? Go see it. No words could do it justice, so I'll just stop there. As for how he fits with the rest of the team, I believe that every single team in this draft is going to have great players handling the quaffle. There isn't a huge difference between the top 5, top 10, top 15, and top 20 quaffle players, and games would likely be decided by bludger control. Though I will certainly be pairing both Mathieu and Peter with other beaters I draft later on, putting them together is absolutely terrifying. Peter will mesh immediately with Mathieu after playing with Chris Seto, and Peter's smart, measured play will work perfectly with Mathieu's aggressive style. - Zach

Photo Credit to Ali Fishman

43. Sean Beloff, University of Miami, Chaser

It is only fitting that the greatest fantasy quidditch team acquire one of the best products from “The U”, which includes famous names such as Warren Sapp, Ed Reed, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Sean Beloff served as the heart and backbone for the University of Miami last year when the team was often voted the best (or at least top 5) team in the nation. A phenomenal chaser with the type of athletic lankiness that allows him to slip tacklers and infiltrate zones, Beloff is often a tough force for defenses to stop. Certainly, the South will certainly get another dose of Beloff in their upcoming regional. How will Beloff fit with a team already heavy with chasers? The simple answer is that he adds a crafty complement to an already powerful chaser line, and the diversification of skills will certainly make any opponent cringe. - Canto

#quiyk #iqa #quidditch #oppositewords

R5, P2

Photo by Michael E. Mason

37. Kedzie Teller, Boston Massacre QC, Chaser/Seeker

Do I really have to explain how good this guy is? He started off his collegiate athletics career as a sprinter for the BU track team. He then spent a few years dominating for BU at multiple world cups and earned a spot on Team USA in the summer of 2012. A sterling performance at THE fantasy tournament this past summer cemented his spot among the greats of the game. Deadly fast and strong enough to bring anyone down, Kedzie is the complete package at chaser. He is one of if not the best pure chaser outside the Southwest. A seasoned veteran, Kedzie fits the mold of what I want from my players; experienced athletes who can play multiple positions. Kedzie’s athleticism allows him to play point or off ball defense and excel as a seeker.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Barbier

38. Melissa White, LSU, Chaser/Beater

In our fifth installment of the epic saga, “Oh Beater, Where Art Thou?”, Melissa White, LSU, stars as the latest edition to a bevy of players hell-bent on winning. Many will wonder how such a talented director was inspired to cast this young starlet in this role. Truth be told, the heavens opened up, and the great Mollie Lensing remarked that White played at Diamond Cup. It couldn’t have come at a better time, and literally 5 seconds later, the pick was called in. Surely, one of the biggest questions in this draft was the availability of White, who has kept an incredibly low profile this season (probably not now, especially now with the infamous Canto-bump). There’s no doubt that she would have gone earlier in this draft as one of the premier chasers in the league had her whereabouts been known. White is hands-down one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen up close and personal. Many people don’t recognize her without multiple chasers draped all over, which is a regular occurrence in matches. She has no fear and will do anything to score; she’s a solid passer, above average agility, and the kind of strength that makes you wonder if Balco has anything to do with it. And what is the proverbial cherry on this awesome sundae? LSU has shown us her versatility by using her as a beater as well. With the addition of White, not only do I add a top-class chaser to the best chaser core in the draft, but also a solid beater, allowing me more versatility with my line-up. And chemistry-wise, Team Canto’s DNA remains the same: physicality, intensity, and heart.

39. Audrey Wright, UT, Chaser

Beauty, Brawn, Brains. Two people in the world share those three qualities in equal amounts. James Franco and Audrey Wright. Why am I picking her? Because it is my belief that she should have been picked far before this. After Stephen Bell, nobody impressed me as much as Audrey at World Cup VI. She's strong, she is the definition of a pure athlete, and she picked up the game quickly and hasn't looked back. While I lay no claim to be an expert on the Southwest, there are those who argue she has a claim for best female chaser in the region. She's a scorer, and will work great off the ball with the other quaffle players on the team. Sorry in advance to Team Dugtrio (aka Team UT) for stealing her from right under you.

Photo by Lauren Carter

40. Keir Rudolph, Kansas, Seeker/Utility

Love them or hate them, the Settle Seahawks are a team of beauty. Young and inexperienced, yet they absolutely destroyed the Denver Broncos (the team I was rooting for) in the Super Bowl. Why? Pete Carroll. He assembled the most athletic, physically gifted team in recent history. If you weren't fast, strong, conditioned - he didn't want you. I consider myself a young Pete Carroll, only better looking. For my QUIYK Fantasy Team, I only want athletes. My team will be stronger and faster than every other team at every position. That's why I select God's gift to quidditch with my next pick, Keir Rudolph. Not only is he in the conversation as the best seeker in the world along with August (let me remind you he too is on my team), but Keir has played each of the four positions at fantasy tournaments all over the country. He's tasted the flavor of play from each region and excels in each.

TEAM NATERA: K, Stephen Bell, Lone Star QC B, Mollie Lensing, Lone Star QC B, Hope Machala, Lone Star QC U, Sean Pagoada, FF C/S, Kedzie Teller, QC Boston

TEAM CANTO: K, Augustine Monroe, UT C, Kody Marshall, Lone Star QC C, Adam Richardson, UCLA C/S, Harry Greenhouse, UMD C/B, Melissa White, LSU

TEAM D'AMICO: C, Vanessa Goh, The Lost Boys B, Peter Lee, The Lost Boys K, Zach Luce, UCLA C, Michael Powell, BU C, Audrey Wright, UT

TEAM DUGIE: C/U, Simon Arends, Lone Star QC C/U, Chris Morris, Lone Star QC K/U, Daniel Daugherty, BGSU K/U, August Lührs, USC S/U, Keir Rudolph, Kansas

#quiyk #quidditch #iqa

R6, P2

44. Keri Callegari, Lone Star, Chaser

Photo Credit to Kat Ignatova

45. Andy Abayan, Santa Barbara, Beater

Photo by Elizabeth Barbier

46. Brad Armentor, LSU, Chaser

Photo Credit to Michael E. Mason

47. Michael Parada, NYDC, Keeper/Chaser/Seeker

48. Jacob Bruner, Baylor, Keeper

TEAM BELL: B, Brittany Ripperger, Baylor K, Brendan Stack, BU B, Chris Rhodes, Baylor C/S, Aryan Ghoddossy, UT C/S, Jeffrey Lin, The Lost Boys B, Andy Abayan, SB Blacktips

TEAM HANSON: C/K, Drew Wasikowski, Texas A&M B, Chris Seto, The Lost Boys C/S, Kifer Gregoire, Texas A&M K/C, Alex Browne, The Lost Boys C/U, Missy Sponagle, The Lost Boys C, Brad Armentor, LSU

TEAM DALLAS: K, Tony Rodriguez, The Lost Boys B/C, Max Havlin, BU B/C, Katrina Bossotti, BU C, Becca DuPont, Texas A&M S/U, Steve DiCarlo, The Lost Boys C/K/S, Michael Parada, NYDC

TEAM WILSON: C, Sarah Holub, Lone Star QC B, David Gilbert, Baylor K, David Fox, Emerson C, P. Reynebeau, Arkansas C, J. Reynebeau, Arkansas K, Jacob Bruner, Baylor

#quiyk #quidditch #iqa

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